Villagers appeal for bombing to stop

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 November 2000, 18:55 GMT]
An appeal has been made to the President of Sri Lanka to take immediate steps to stop the indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombing on Ralkulai and Navaladi villages in the Mutur division, south of eastern Trincomalee town. Hundreds of villagers have signed this memorandum, TamilNet sources in Mutur said.

People of Ralkuli and Navaladi were displaced in 1990 violence. After seven years the villagers were resettled in 1997.

Now due to indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombing in these areas villagers fear another displacement is in the offing. This view has been expressed in the memorandum sent to the President through the Mutur Divisional Secretariat, sources said.

After the attack on the Trincomalee Naval Headquarters last month, the security forces are now engaged in firing shells and aerial bombings on these villages and the Upparu area held by the LTTE.

Villagers say they are unable to live in these areas peacefully due to the shelling and bombing.